Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas DPS to begin strictly enforcing English proficiency requirements for all commercial drivers, a week after WFAA report.
DALLAS —WFAA – (WBAP/KLIF) – One week after a WFAA investigation revealed that Texas was not enforcing English-language rules for many commercial drivers, Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the Department of Public Safety to strictly enforce the requirement across the board.
In a directive issued Thursday, Abbott told DPS to apply the English proficiency rule to all commercial drivers — including those who hold intrastate licenses that allow them to operate only within Texas.
“Every commercial driver license operator on Texas roadways must be able to communicate clearly in English to ensure compliance with traffic laws, follow safety directions, and prevent accidents,” the governor said in a statement.
The statement also said that he was directing DPS to cease issuing intrastate commercial driver licenses for drivers that cannot speak English sufficiently to communicate with department personnel.
The governor said he is ordering DPS’ Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers to conduct English Language Proficiency reviews for all commercial license operators on Texas roadways.
The governor’s office said DPS has already taken action against about 445 drivers since late June for failing to meet the English standard. That includes roughly 28 intrastate license holders, 336 licensed in Mexico, and others from outside Texas.
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